Bart, Villar, Webb lead the way as SF Giants snap skid
Much of the 2022 season has been trying for the SF Giants, as the veteran players who led the way to a 107-win National League West championship in 2021 have spent time on the Injured List and/or performing much worse than they did the season before. In addition, much of the rest of the big-league roster has been made up of role players and the ever-revolving door of cast-offs from other organizations looking for a chance.
With the exception of right-hander Logan Webb, the Giants haven't seen a lot of production out of players expected to be key to their next stretch of competitive teams other than in short glimpses.
Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs was one of those glimpses, and multiple players under team control for many years into the future helped provide the look at what the franchise could be.
Webb got the start and earned the win after a rough beginning, and rookies Joey Bart and David Villar both homered before young righty Camilo Doval shut the door for the save in a 5-2 San Francisco win.
With the victory, the Giants snapped a five-game losing streak.
In the first inning, Webb allowed a one-out hit before a two-out double drove in the first run of the game. A one-out triple and throwing error in the second gave the Cubs their second run, but by that time the Giants had given Webb a cushion.
San Francisco had gone down in order in the first against Marcus Stroman, who notably praised the "approach and mindset" of the Giants organization when he was exploring options as a free agent last offseason. However, Joc Pederson opened the second inning with a double and advanced to third base on a wild pitch before Villar doubled him in to tie the game.
SF Giants take the lead on a balk
Villar then went to third on a groundout and, after a walk, scored the go-ahead run on a balk by Stroman with Bart at the plate. After falling behind, 0-2, Bart worked the count even and then unloaded on a belt-high fastball from Stroman, putting the Giants up 4-1 with his 11th home run of the season.
With the lead, Webb was able to cruise through the end of his outing; a two-out double in the sixth and one-out single in the seventh were the only baserunners he allowed after the second inning. Webb finished with six strikeouts and no walks on six hits in his seven frames, dropping his ERA to 2.88.
Villar's home run - his fifth of the season in limited time at the top level - completed the scoring in the eighth. Bart added a double in the fourth and single in the ninth for a three-hit game.
After John Brebbia tossed a solid eighth inning, Doval entered and promptly allowed a base hit. A line drive double play erased the runner, though, and Doval froze Alfonso Rivas for a called strike three to end the game.
The Giants are now 66-73 on the season. The three-game set at Wrigley Field finishes Sunday night with the Orange and Black planning to use Brebbia to open the game.